Diabetes drugs part of top spend

According to recent reports from the US, diabetes drugs were amongst those that American consumers spent the most amount of money on last year. The statistics were reported in the newest News and Numbers released by the Agency for HealthcareResearch and Quality.

According to the reports, adult consumers in America spent around $36 billion on prescriptiondrugs to lower blood sugar, help with metabolic problems or reduce cholesterol . Other drugs in the top spend category included cardiovascular drugs, central nervous system drugs, antidepressants and gastrointestinal drugs.

In the UK, a significant proportion of National Health Service budget is spent on diabetes-related treatment and drugs, making diabetes one of the most expensive diseases in the country. The cost of medication and insulin are so high that a report earlier this year indicated that the US spends more on diabetes drugs than it has in total on the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as fighting terror.